Hot, inland California cities face the steepest water cuts with new conservation mandate

Facing a future of shortages, California is entering a new phase of water conservation: Cities and towns must meet new mandates ramping down use over the next 15 years — and some will be hit harder than others.

Approved two weeks ago, the new state rules require 405 cities and other urban suppliers serving 95% of Californians to meet individualized water budgets.

Suppliers serving roughly a third of Californians won’t need to cut water use to meet the 2040 mandates. Coastal California is expected to escape relatively unscathed with its cool climate, while hot, inland communities will face far steeper conservation requirements.

Of a dozen water systems projected to face cuts of 40% or more over the next 15 years, seven are located in the Central Valley, where many suppliers already struggle with water availability and quality, according to preliminary state data.

“We’re the closest to where the rubber meets the road. But older districts like ours just aren’t as capable,” said Brian Davis, general manager of the Linda County Water District in Yuba County north of Sacramento, which will have to cut an estimated 43% by 2040.

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